A Caesar for All Seasons

Consumers love Caesar salads. We all run them on our menus. Make yours stand out.

Caesar salads firmly hold the title of perennial favourite. And most operators agree that they are a must-have on the menu. But how do you make yours memorable? The chefs at the Kraft Culinary Centre have tackled that question, offering quick ideas on how to make your house Caesar into a seasonal star—with just a few tweaks. Those tweaks are presented in an easy-to-execute seasonal ingredient add-ins chart. And for those hankering for adventure within the loose confines of a Caesar salad? Well, they worked up a few fantastic signature Caesar recipes, too.

Start with your house Caesar salad. Then use this chart of seasonal ingredients to make the common Caesar a delicious menu standout.

SPRING

PROTEIN

VEGGIE/FRUIT

CRUNCH

1

hard-boiled egg

oven-roasted grape tomatoes

pancetta crisps

2

smoked salmon

asparagus tips

bagel chips

3

feta

zucchini ribbons, radish

pita chips

4

seared duck breast

ramps

fried shallots

5

soft shell crab

fiddleheads

fried leeks

SUMMER

PROTEIN

VEGGIE/FRUIT

CRUNCH

1

grilled shrimp

grilled summer squash
grilled eggplant

toasted pine nuts

2

BBQ chicken

avocado
charred corn

tri-colour tortilla strips

3

grilled flat iron

grilled red onion
blistered beefsteak tomatoes

blue cheese croutons

4

crab cake

arugula
watercress

jicama

5

grilled salmon

baby zucchini
heirloom tomatoes

frizzled dill

FALL

PROTEIN

VEGGIE/FRUIT

CRUNCH

1

roasted turkey

roasted butternut squash

toasted pumpkin seeds

2

maple bacon

kale

hickory smoked almonds

3

roasted chicken

dried cranberries
Brussels sprouts leaves

parsnip crisps

4

falafel

pickled purple cabbage

grapes

5

lentils

avocado

toasted quinoa

WINTER

PROTEIN

VEGGIE/FRUIT

CRUNCH

1

grilled chicken

fennel

pomegranate seeds

2

steak

roasted portobellos

onion rings

3

turkey burger

baby spinach

French fried onions

4

seared tuna

baby bok choy

sesame seeds

5

cannellini beans

candy cane beets

candied pecans

"We took the elements of the Caesar salad—tangy, cheesy, creamy, fishy, eggy, crunchy—and played with them for each seasonal recipe build."

This salad is a tribute to summer with its grilled corn, fresh mint, cherry tomatoes, grilled shrimp, pickled watermelon and cornbread croutons. Chef Katz marinates the sweet shrimp in Dijon mustard and extra-virgin olive oil. She relies on Kraft Creamy Caesar Dressing for its great flavour and velvety texture.

You will notice a marked change in the items being pickled. Fruits and vegetables will instantly get more translucent as the gasses are pushed out of them. During this process (and over the next few hours) the brine will deeply and quickly infuse into the product. Brining time will vary based on the size of the cuts (smaller=less time) and the desired intensity.